Sheriff plans to run for office again

Posted: Thursday, March 21, 2002

By By Kevin O'HanlonThe Associated Press

LINCOLN, Neb. -- Former Richardson County Sheriff Charles Laux, widely criticized for mishandling rape allegations by a cross-dressing woman against two men who later murdered her, is running for sheriff in neighboring Johnson County.

Laux still lives in Richardson County but can legally run for sheriff in Johnson County, said Ben Kiser, deputy Secretary of State.

A 1986 law allows people to run for sheriff in any county. But they must move to the county where they serve if elected.

Laux was the Richardson County sheriff from 1987 to 1995, and he served on the Richardson County Board of Commissioners from 1997 to 2001.

Laux is running as a Democrat against Republican Stanley Osterhoudt, who is seeking his third term as Johnson County sheriff.

Osterhoudt declined to comment on Laux's candidacy.

"I think people should just look at the records," he said.

In a scathing, 20-page opinion last year, Nebraska Supreme Court Chief Justice John Hendry said Laux was more concerned with Brandon's sexuality than he was with keeping her safe after she reported the rape.

John Lotter and Marvin Nissen killed Brandon on New Year's Eve 1993 in a farmhouse near Humboldt after she reported the rape.

The pair also killed two people who witnessed Brandon's death.

Laux's interrogation of Brandon after the rape included questions such as "Do you run around ... with a sock in your pants to make you look like a boy?" and he referred to her as an "it," according to court records.

Brandon's mother sued Laux for not offering Teena Brandon protective custody when she first reported the rape, about a week before her slaying.

Richardson County District Judge Orville Coady ruled in 1999 that Laux should have offered Brandon protective custody, but the judge didn't find Laux personally liable.

Instead, he admonished Laux and said he should apologize to Brandon's family, friends and the community.

Coady also ruled that Teena Brandon was partly responsible for her own death because of her lifestyle.

Brandon's mother, who had sought more than $350,000 from the county, was awarded $17,360.

She appealed, and the Nebraska Supreme Court ordered Coady to award at least $80,000 to Brandon's mother.

Coady then awarded her $98,223. In addition, Coady ordered the county to pay $7,000 for emotional distress and $6,223 for funeral expenses.

He also awarded $5,000 for what he called Brandon's "intrinsic value."